Heat exchanger



E. J. SPECA HEAT EXCHANGER July 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1958 United States Patent Ofi 3,647,272 Patented July 31, 1962 ice 1 3,047,272 HEAT EXCHANGER Elio J. Speca, Wellsville, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Combustion Engineering, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 716,637 7 Claims. (Cl. 257-264) This invention relates generally to heat exchange apparatus and more specifically to a form of regenerative heat exchange apparatus wherein the heat exchange material remains stationary while relatively light flow distributing means is operated to direct hot and cold fluids alternately therethrough.

In modern power plant application the size of the rotary heat exchange device commonly used has steadily increased along with the size of the other steam generating apparatus until it has attained such large proportions that providing suitable support structure for the stationary and rotatable parts has become a diflicult problem. Moreover, as the size of the rotary heat exchange device is increased the sealing relationship between the relatively rotatable parts becomes increasingly critical and even more diflicult to attain. Furthermore, from a standpoint of space utilization the maximum base area of any cylindrical housing disposed in a given rectangular area is but 75% of the area concerned, so that wherever space is at a premium the utilization of rectangular units has a decided advantage.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a regenerative heat exchanger wherein heat exchange material therein remains fixed and only relatively light parts lying at opposite ends thereof are rotated to direct hot and cold fluids alternately therethrough.

It is another object of my invention to provide a regenerative heat exchange device wherein all sealing members are moved at the same relative rate of speed to provide a constant rate of wear of all sealing surfaces.

It is a further object of my invention to provide the benefits of a rotary regenerative heat exchanger to a rectangular unit.

It is another object of my invention to provide a heat exchange device of the type defined having improved flow distribution resulting from a simplified ducting arrangement.

It is still further the object to provide a regenerative type heat exchanger that provides a maximum available element for a given rectangular area.

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent when read in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a rectangular heat exchanger utilizing flow distribution means as defined in my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the rotary flow distributing means mounted at opposite ends of the heat exchanger.

In the drawing a rectangular housing 10 is divided into a multiplicity of compartments 12 by a series of parallel diaphragms or partitions 14. The compartments thus formed are provided with regenerative heat exchange material of a type that readily absorbs and gives off heat to fluid flowing therethrough, the absorption and rejection of heat taking place alternately and continuously during operation of the device herein defined. At each end of the regenerative material a spacing 16 is provided to permit permanent installation of cleaning apparatus directly adjacent the end faces of heat exchange material to be cleaned.

At each end of housing 10 a series of spaced partition extension members 24 in alignment with housing partitions 14 provide a series of adjacent compartments 18.

The partition extension members are formed in graded lengths, so when arranged symmetrically the end faces thereof terminate in an arcuate surface 26 having apertures that provide for the passage of fluid to and through the regenerative heat exchange material within the housing 10. An imperforate cover plate 28 continuing arcuately from the perforate surface 26 forms therewith a cylindrical duct whose axis extends normal to the flow directing partitions 14. Although the axial length and diameter of the cylindrical duct illustrated is substantially less than that of housing 10, the relative size is not critical and may therefore be Varied considerably Within the scope of this invention.

A pair of support bearings 32 mounted at opposite ends of each cylindrical duct 2628 support the shafts 34 of upper and lower flow distributing means 36 for rotation about their axes within the cylindrical duct.

The flow distributing means 36 at the upper end of of the heat exchange device directs a hot fluid from inlet duct 42 to several of compartments 12 where it gives up heat to the regenerative heat exchange material contained therein. After passing through the regenerative material the then cooled gases flow on to the other flow distributing device where they are directed to a duct 44 for exhaust therefrom. Simultaneously, the lower flow distributing device directs cooler air from inlet 46 to and through the regenerative material lying in the compartments 12 which are not at that time receiving hot gas from inlet 42. After passing through the regenerative material and absorbing heat therefrom the heated air passes through the upper flow distributing means where it is exhausted through outlet 48 to any predetermined point of usage.

An actuating means 52 including a motor and reducing gear is adapted to rotate the spaced flow distributing means reversely and in synchronization by means of a pair of chain drives 54. The upper flow distributing means is rotated one way while the lower one is rotated reversely by means of a geared support 53 to simultaneously provide similar duct connections at opposite ends thereof to sequentially subject the heat exchange material of each compartment to the flow of air and gas. Equivalent mechanical or electronic driving means may be substituted for the means 5 2-54 without materially affecting the operation of the device.

Each flow distributing device 36 comprises essentially a rotor shaft 34 having four or more partitions 56 of trapezoidal form extending radially outward to two axial- 1y spaced annular sealing rings 58 whose diameter is only slightly less than that of cylindrical duct 26-28, whereby the cylindrical member thus formed may be rotated freely about its axis concentrically within the cylindrical duct. A triangular flow deflecting plate 62 is positioned at one end between each pair of partitions 56, circumferentially adjacent plates being positioned at opposite ends of the trapezoidal partitions to provide identically disposed compartments on opposite sides of the rotor post with the compartments therebetween similar but disposed in an axially reversed relationship.

Segmental filler plates 64 are placed between the chordal edge of plates 62 and the subtended portion of annular sealing member 58 to fully enclose the end of each compartment to limit access of each fluid to a single end of the flow distributing device and arcuate plates 66 are interposed axially between annular rings 58 adjacent the end edges of members 56 to provide a sealing surface that effectively precludes mingling of the two fluids by flowing through the annular clearance space between the distributing means 36 and the cover plate 28. The arcuate plates 66 are formed to extend circumferentially a distance at least as great as the distance between partitions 24 whereby at least one of sealing members 68 on the end edges thereof or on the inner surface of cover plate 28 are in constant contact with each of the plates 66. The sealing members 68 comprise resilient leaves mounted in laterally spaced relation on the inside face of cover plate 28 and on the end edges of partitions 24 to bridge the space between the fixed housing structure and the rotatable flow distributing device 36. A circumferential sealing means at each end of the duct 26-28 is adapted to bear against the annular members 58 to preclude fluid flow around the end edges thereof.

What I claim is:

1. Regenerative heat exchange apparatus for the transfer of heat between a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated comprising a rectangular housing divided into a series of rectangular open ended compartments by parallel partition plates, a transition section including partition extension members having their end edges abutting partitions at each end of the housing and having their oppositely facing end edges arranged to terminate in arcuate surfaces with parallel axes of curvature, regenerative heat exchange material carried by the compartments of said housing, flow distributing means at opposite ends of the housing mounted on parallel axes lying at the axis of curvature of each arcuate surface, duct means for supplying the heating fluid and the fluid to be heated to said spaced flow distributing means, duct means for simultaneously discharging said fluids from said flow distributing means at opposite ends of the apparatus, and actuating means for rotating the spaced flow distributing means continuously in opposing directions about their respective axes whereby the heating fluid and the fluid to be heated are successively directed to and from each compartment of the housing.

2. Regenerative heat exchange apparatus for the transfer of heat between a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated as defined in claim 1 wherein each flow distributing means comprises a central rotor shaft, radial partitions depending from said rotor shaft adapted to terminate in closely spaced relation with the end edges of said partition extension members to provide a series of sectorial compartments therebetween, and means enclosing alternate ends of adjacent compartments to permit access thereto from a single one of said duct means.

3. Regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the means enclosing alternate ends of adjacent compartments are positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the rotor shaft to simultaneously direct fluid from a single one of said duct means to compartments on opposite sides of said rotor shaft.

4. Regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 3 including an imperforate arcuate plate having a radius of curvature similar to that of the arcuate surface 4 formed by the end edges of the partition extension members, said arcuate plate superposed on said arcuate surface to form therewith a cylindrical housing that concentrically surrounds said flow distributing means.

5. Regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 4 including sealing means on the end edges of the partition extension members and the adjacent housing structure adapted to confront the flow distributing means and preclude the by-pass of fluid thereby.

6. A regenerative heat exchange apparatus including a rectangular housing, parallel partition plates arranged to divide said housing into a series of laterally adjacent compartments, a mass of perforate heat absorbent material carried in each of said compartments, a transition section at each end of the housing including partition extension members arranged with their proximal end edges abutting ends of the partition plates and their distal end edges disposed in oppositely facing arcuate surfaces having parallel axes of curvature, an imperforate arcuate cover plate mounted on each arcuate surface to combine therewith and provide a composite cylindrical surface, rotary flow distributing means mounted for rotation on parallel axes at the center of each cylindrical surface, means for supplying a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated to the flow distributing means at spaced ends of said apparatus, means for discharging said fluids from the flow distributing means at opposite ends of said apparatus and means for rotating said flow distributing means at opposite ends of said apparatus continuously and in opposing directions to alternately direct the heating fluid and the fluid to be heated through the compartments of the housing.

7. A regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said flow distributing means comprises a central rotor shaft, a plurality of radial partitions depending from each shaft to provide a series of sectorial compartments therebetween, and means enclosing alternate ends of adjacent compartments to permit access of a single fluid to predetermined compartments thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,538,686 Chamberlain May 19, 1925 1,590,408 Bell et a1. June 29, 1926 1,884,617 Dow Oct. 25, 1932 1,939,153 Villasuso Dec. 12, 1933 2,701,129 Yerrick Feb. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 270,759 Great Britain 1928 

